Sickle grinder



May 20, 1 47. E. c. BEELER SICKLE GRINDER Filed July 13, 1943 2Sheets-Sheet 1 N Wm l-nqeni'or:

C. ,BeeZer,

' b 'iflflornegc.

May 20,1947. E. c. BEELER SICKLE GRINDER Filed July 13, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I a7;l CLB eeler, By M, 2:43 M

fiflorneys.

Patented May 20, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2'0 Claims.

The present invention relates to sickle sharpenters, and has for itspurpose to provide a sharpener of the grinder type which may beconveniently used for sharpening the sickle blades by anyone familiarwith such operation and withou t t'he necessity of a skilled operator.

The construction is such that the grinder may be conveniently attachedto a motor vehicle, such as a tractor, and power "for driving thegrinding wheel taken from a power unit of the tractor, that unit beinghere shown as the fan shaft. This combining of the grinder and tractoreliminates the necessity of leaving the field With the sickle for a shopwhere grinding attachments may be set up, and effects saving of time infield operacons.

With the construction herein disclosed, the

grinder maybe brought into fully operative position for grinding thesickle in an expeditious and convenient manner, but the equipment, whennot in use, may be collapsed or folded into'compact condition, so as notto interfere in any way with the manipulation of the tractor inperformance of its regular operations.

In the drawings herewith and forming a part of this application- Figure1 is a plan View of the'grinder, so much of the tractor being shown asis necessary to illustrate the mounting of the grinder on the tractorand the grinder driving connections.

Figure 2 is a side view of the grinder and a portion of the tractorframe.

Figure 3 is an end view of the grinder in position for grinding thesickle, and

Figure 4 is a similar View, "showing the grinder parts in folded orcollapsed position.

In the drawings, in which like numbers indicate like parts in theseveral views, Hi indicates atra'ctor part to which the grinder issecured. The base ll of the grinder frame may be fashioned in ansuitable form. As here shown, it is made of L-shaped angle iron and isbolted or otherwise secured to the tractor frame Ill. E'xtendingupward'ly from the base member II are posts l2 on which certain of themoving parts of the equipment hereinafter described, are mounted. Inorder to further hold and steady the base II and the posts [2 inposition, I preferably provide a tie rod [3 connected with one of theposts I2 and coupled to a front portion of the tractor so as to maintainthe main supporting parts in position and prevent undue vibration,

Pivotally mounted on the posts 12 are the grinder shaft supports l4 andconnected to the upper ends of said members It is a long shaft bearing!5 in which is mounted for rotation the grinder shaft It. The extendedshaft bearing I5 insures a firm mounting for the relatively long grindershaft l6 so that a smooth running of the shaft I 6 is secured, excessivevibration eliminated, and the grinding stone and its drive pulley may beproperly located. Shaft 16 has mounted thereon the drive pulley ll,which may be belted by the belt 18 to a pulley 1'9 mounted on anysuitable drive shaft, such as the fan shaft, as here shown. Preferably,the pulley l9 will be a split pulley which may be conveniently attachedto the fan shaft without the necessity of taking the shaft down ordisturbing the other parts. Mounted on the shaft it is the grindingwheel 20, here shown as a coiled wheel, which form is particularlyadapted for grinding the teeth of a sickle, although it will beunderstood that wheels of different formation may be used, dependent onthe work to be done.

ls lidingly and rotatably mounted in lugs 2i carried by the base memberll is a traverse shaft 22, the lugs 2| being widely separated to givespaced bearing points for the shaft 22 and secure accurate andvibrationless sliding and rotating movements of the shaft 22 and theparts carried thereby. Secured to the shaft 22 is a sickle carrier, madeup of the toothed or notched plate 23; arms 2d, and the sickle platesupporting rod 25, a sickle clamping member being provided to hold thesickle in place.

The sickle clamp is made up in any suitable fashion, being here shown asformed of a relatively long sleeve 26 slidably and rotatably mounted onthe rod 25 and provided with a portion 21 having asubstantially L-shapedsickle seat. From the part 21 extends a screw supporting neck 29, a handscrew 30 being mounted in the neck 29 in such position that it can beset up to clamp a sickle in proper position on the sickle clamp forgrinding. To brace the carrier frame and form a rigid structure Iprovide the cross struts 28 between the carrier arms 24.

The sickle clamp is mounted for independent sliding and rotary movementon the rod 25, carried by the arms 24, so that it has capacity forsliding movement relative to the grinding wheel to bring the teethsucoessivelyinto place. Additionally, the entire sickle carrier can bemovedwith the transverse shaft22 in a longitudinal direction to brindifferent sections of the sickle into position for grinding. Therotatably mounted sickle clamp may swing to and from the grinder 20 forthe purpose of bringing the blades of the sickle into proper positionfor sharpening, stops 3| being provided to prevent the sickle clamp fromswinging back too far on the carrier arms 24. The teeth 32 on the clampplate 23 lie directly behind the teeth on the sickle, and when the screw30 is set up, the sickle is held snugly against the teeth 32 so as tohold it securely in place and reduce vibration under the action of thegrinder wheel and insure a correct grinding action. The clamp 23 islimited in its movement of withdrawal from the grinder, so that itcannot fall away, by means of a stop finger 33 at the lower end of oneof the carrier legs which engages the underside of the base II.

In the position shown in Figure 4, the grinder is folded or collapsedand may be held in such position in any suitable manner, as by means ofthe spring latch 34, here shown, which is mounted on one of the legs l2of the base I I, and engages with a portion of the shaft bearing I5. Tofurther maintain the parts in proper collapsed position, I provide aspring clip 35 on the shaft bearing adapted to engage the neck 29 of thesickle clamp when the sickle carrier is folded, so as to prevent thesickle carrie from falling to open position when not in use. To insureagainst any shifting of the sickle carrier with the traverse shaft 22when the grinder is not in use, I preferably secure the traverse shaftin any suitable manner, as, for example, by means of a cotter pin 36which engages pin openings 31 in one of the lugs 2| on the base plate Il and registering opening in the shaft 22.

When the sickle carrier is released and in position for operation, asshown in Figure 3, the sickle will be mounted in its seat 23 and clampedin place by the hand screw 30. The power belt 18 will then be engagedwith the pulley l9 on the fan shaft and the operator will move thesickle carrier to and from the grinding wheel, giving the sickle clamp ashort traverse on the shaft 25 as the sickle is moved from notch tonotch.

This movement of the clamp on the rod 25 will, in the example hereshown, take care of substantially seven teeth of the sickle, although itwill be understood that the proportions of the parts may be changed soas to take care of a less or greater number of teeth, if desired. Thepitman end of the sickle may extend somewhat beyond the sickle seat, asit will be held sufficiently rigid to insure proper grinding. After theclamp on the rod 25 has taken care of the sickle teeth within its range,the whole carrier may itself be shifted with the traverse shaft 22,which slides and rotates in the lugs 2| on the base I I, so as to bringsucceeding sickle teeth into position to be ground. It will be seen thatthe carrier frame, made up of arms 24 and rod 25, which slides with thetraverse rod 22, is of such width that it furnishes a firm support forthe sickle, even though the extended portions of the sickle are notimmediately in contact with the toothed plate of the sickle seat. With along sickle it will be necessary to release the sickle from its clamp,move it along the sickle seat to bring the unground section intogrinding position, and complete the grinding.

In order to position the grinder shaft and properly tension its drivebelt I8, I provide an adjustment of the grinder shaft l6 frame relativeto the fan belt shaft, that adjustment being here shown as accomplishedby means of two ratchet links 38 pivoted to the arms l4 and adapted toengage slots 39 on the uprights [2 of the grinder shaft frame.

The links 38 are preferably connected by rod 43 so that they move inunison and have suitable stops, as pins 4|, at their ends to preventcomplete withdrawal from the slots 39. The ratchet links 38 not onlypermit adjustment of the grinder shaft It for belt tightening, but alsoallow for adjustment for different sizes of grinding wheels, a shorteror longer belt being used for wheels of different sizes. With thisconstruction it is possible to maintain the grinder shaft It indifferent operative positions.

I have here shown an operative and satisfactory construction and thebest now known to me, but it will be understood that changes inproportions of the parts and such other changes in mechanical make-up asdo not depart from the invention here disclosed may be made and are tobe considered as within the purview of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting base, a grindersupporting shaft supported by and pivotally adjustable on said base tooperative and inoperative positions, pivotally mounted shaft adjustingratchet arms mounted on the grinder shaft supports and engaging saidbase, a grinding wheel and driven pulley on said shaft, a drivingconnection between said pulley and a power shaft, a sickle carrierpivoted on said base and movable toward and from said grinding wheel,and longitudinally movable sickle holding means on said carrier.

2. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting base, a grindersupporting shaft supported by and pivotally adjustable on said base tooperative and inoperative positions, a grinding wheel and driven pulleyon said shaft, a driving connection between said pulley and a powershaft, a sickle carrier ivoted on said base and movable toward and fromsaid grinding wheel, longitudinally movable sickle holding means on saidcarrier, and a spring latch mounted on said base for holding saidpivotally adjustable grinder shaft folded or in inoperative positioncollapsed relative to said supporting base.

3. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting base, a grindersupporting shaft pivotally adjustable on said base, a grinding wheel anddriven pulley on said shaft, a driving connection between said pulleyand a power shaft, a sickle carrier pivoted on said base and movabletoward and from said grinding wheel, longitudinally movable sickleholding means on said carrier, a spring latch mounted on said base andengaging the shaft bearing for holding said pivotally adjustable grindershaft folded or collapsed in inoperative position relative to saidsupporting base, and a spring catch on the grinder shaft bearing forholding said pivoted sickle carrier folded or collapsed in inoperativeposition relative to said grinder shaft and said supporting base.

4. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting base, a traverseshaft mounted on said base for longitudinal and rotary movement, agrinder supporting shaft supported by and pivotally adjustable on saidbase, a grinding wheel and a driven pulley on said grinder shaft, adriving connection between said pulley and a power shaft, a sicklecarrier mounted on and movable with said traverse shaft, a sickle seatmounted on said carrier for independent movement, and means for holdinga sickle in said seat.

5. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting base, a traverseshaft mounted on saidbase for longitudinal and rotary movement, agrinder supporting :shaft supported by and pivotallyadjustableonrsaidbasaa grinding wheel and a driven pulley on .said grinder shaft,a driving connection between said pulley and a power shaft, a sicklecarrier mounted on and movable with said traverse shaft, a sickle seatmounted for independent movement having independent sickle bladesupports on said carrier, spaced blade supports on said seat, and meansfor holding a sickle in said seat.

6.1m a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting base, a traverseshaft mounted-on-said base for "longitudinal and rotary movement, agrindersupporting shaft .supported by and pivotally adjustable on saidbase, a grinding wheel and a driven pulley on said grinder shaft, adriving connection between said pulley and a power shaft, a sicklecarrier mounted on and movable with said traverse shaft, anindependently movable sickle seat having supporting teeth for theindividual sickle blades on said carrier, and means for holding a sicklein said seat.

'7. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting base, atraverse shaft mounted on said base for longitudinal and rotarymovement, a grinder supporting shaft-supported by and pivotallyadjustable on said base, a grinding wheel and a driven ulley on saidgrinder shaft, a driving connection between said pulley and a powershaft, a sickle carrier mounted on and movable with said traverse shaft,an independently movable sickle seat on said carrier having a pluralityof spaced supports for the spaced sickle blades, and means for clampinga sickle in said seat.

8. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting base mountableon a tractor frame, a grinder supporting shaft supported by andpivotally adjustable on said base, means for holding said shaft indifferent positions of adjustment relative to the tractor frame, a,grinding wheel and a driven pulley on said shaft, a driving connectionbetween said pulley and a power shaft of the tractor, a sickle carrierpivoted on said base, and a sickl holding seat pivotally mounted on andindependently movable longitudinally relative to said carrier.

9. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting base mountableon a tractor frame, a grinder supporting shaft supported by and pivotally adjustable on said base, means for holding said shaft in differentpositions of adjustment relative to the tractor frame, a grinding wheeland a driven pulley on said shaft, a driving connection between saidpulley and a fan shaft of the tractor, a sickle carrier pivoted on saidbase, and a sickle holding seat pivotally mounted on and independentlymovable longitudinally relative to said carrier.

10. A sickle seat for sickle grinders of substantially L-shaped form incross-section having spaced supports underlying the spaced teeth of thesickle, screw supporting means "above said sickle seat, and a sickleclamping screw in said supporting means.

11. In a, sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting base, agrinder supporting shaft supported by and pivotally adjustable on saidbase to operative and inoperative positions, means for holding saidshaft in inoperative position, independent means to maintain said shaftin operative position, a grinding wheel and driven pulley on said shaft,a driving connection between said pulley and a power shaft, a sicklecarrier pivoted on and longitudinally movable relative to said 6 base,and sickle holding means on said carrier mounted forlongitudinalimovement with respect to said grinder supporting shaft.

I2. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting base, a pair ofspaced shaft supports pivoted on said base, a grinder supporting shaftcarried by said supports and thereby adjustable on "said base tooperative and inoperative positions, means for holding said shaft ininoperative position, ,pivotallymounted shaft adjusting arms carried onthe shaft supports and engaging said base to maintain said shaft indifferent operative positions, a grinding wheel and pulley on saidshaft, a driving connection between said pulley aLp'ower shaft, a sicklecarrier pivoted on said base and movable toward and from said grindingwheel, and longitudinally movable sickle holding means on :said carrier.

13. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting base, atraverse shaft mounted on said base for longitudinal and rotarymovement, a grinder supporting shaft supported by and pivotallyadjustable on said base, a grinding wheel and a driven pulley on saidgrinder shaft, a driving connection between said pulley and a powershaft, 'a sickle carrier mounted on and movable with said traverseshaft, an independently movable .sickle seat pivotally mounted on saidcarrier and having :a plurality of spaced supports underlying the teethof the sickle, and means for clamping a sickle in said seat.

14. 1A sickle seat for sickle grinders of substantially L-shape'd formin cross section having spaced supports underlying the spaced teeth ofthe sickle, a supporting neck above said sickle seat, and a sickleclamping screw in said neck.

15. A sickle grinder for attachment on the frame of a tractor which hasa power shaft, comprising a supporting base, a grinder supporting shaftsupported by and pivotally adjustable on said base from and toward thepower shaft of the tractor to operative and inoperative positions, agrinding wheel and driven pulley on said shaft, a driving connectionbetween said pulley and the power shaft of the tractor, a sickle arrierpivoted on said base and movable toward and from said grinder wheel,sickle holding means on said carrier movable longitudinally of saidgrinder supporting shaft, and means for holding said pivotallyadjustable grinder shaft folded and collapsed in inoperative positionrelative to said supporting base.

16. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting base, a grindersupporting shaft supported by and. pivotally adjustable on said base tooperative and inoperative positions, a grinding wheel and driven pulleyon said shaft, a driving connection between said pulley and a powershaft, a sickle carrier pivoted on said base and movable toward and fromsaid grinding wheel, longitudinally movable sickle holding means on saidcarrier, means for holding said pivotally adjustable grinder shaftfolded and collapsed in inoperative position relative to said supportingbase, and means for holding said sickle carrier folded or collapsed ininoperative position relative to said grinder shaft and said supportingbase.

17. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting frame mountedon a tractor, a grinder supporting shaft supported by and pivotallyadjustable on said frame, means for holding said shaft in differentpositions of adjustment relative to the tractor, a grinding wheel and adriven pulley on said shaft, a driving connection between said pulleyand a power shaft of the tractor,

a sickle carrier comprising spaced arms pivoted on said frame andmounted for longitudinal movement with respect to the grinder supportingshaft to move the sickle longitudinally with re-- spect to the grindingwheel, and a sickle holding seat on said carrier,

18. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting structuremounted on a tractor frame, a grinder shaft supporting arm pivoted atits inner end to said structure and carrying the grinder shaft at itsouter end, a sickle grinding element on said shaft, a sickle seatsupporting arm pivoted at its inner end to said structure and carryingthe sickle seat at its outer end, said grinder shaft supporting armbeing located for movement between the tractor and said sickle seatsupporting arm, means for supporting said grinder shaft arm in operativeposition with the grinder shaft moved outwardly from the tractor and inhoused position when moved inwardly toward the tractor, and means tosupport the sickle seat arm in operative position with the sickle seatmoved outwardly from the tractor and in housed position when movedinwardly toward the tractor.

19. In a sickle grinder, the combination of a supporting structuremounted on a tractor frame, a grinder shaft supporting arm pivoted atits inner end to said structure and carrying the grinder shaft at itsouter end, a sickle grinding element on said shaft, a sickle seatsupporting arm pivoted at its inner end to said structure and carryingthe sickle seat at its outer end, said sickle seat being mounted foradjustment longitudinally with respect to said grinder shaft, saidgrinder shaft supporting arm being located for movement between thetractor and said sickle seat supporting arm, means for supporting saidgrinder shaft arm in operative position with the grinder shaft movedoutwardly from the tractor and in housed position when moved inwardlytoward the tractor, and means to support the sickle seat arm inoperative position with the sickle seat moved outwardly from the tractorand in housed position when moved inwardly toward the tractor.

20. A sickle grinder for attachment on a tractor frame having a powershaft, comprising a supporting structure mounted on the tractor frame, adriven grinder shaft supporting arm pivoted at its inner end to'saidstructure and carrying the grinder shaft at its outer end, a drivenpulley and a sickle grinding element on said shaft, a belt forconnecting said pulley with a drive pulley on the power shaft of thetractor, a sickle seat supporting arm pivoted at its inner end to saidstructure and carrying the sickle seat at its outer end, said grindershaft being located for movement between the.tractor and said sickleseat, means for supporting said grinder shaft arm in operative positionwith the grinder shaft moved outwardly from the tractor and in housedposition when moved inwardly toward the tractor, said means forretaining said arm in its outer and operative position providing for themaintenance of proper drive tension on said belt.

EARL C. BEELER.

tEFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 808,260 Stansbury Dec. 26, 19052,188,616 Waddill Jan. 20, 1940 2,307,826 Donason Jan. 12, 19431,602,097 Beverly Oct. 5, 1926 2,051,071 Borst Aug. 18, 1936 674,468Parmer May 21, 1901 342,789 Fenton June 1, 1886 105,802 Hardy July 26,1870 233,082 Elliot Oct. 12, 1880 583,443 Allen June 1, 1897 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 27,851 Switzerland Oct. 21, 1903 144,927Switzerland Apr. 16, 1931 755,824 France Sept. 11, 1933

